Port takes a punt on basketball star

Port Adelaide has taken a punt on a second former basketball
star, with the Power hopeful it will prove as successful as the
signing of 2004 premiership ruckman Dean Brogan.

The Power have recruited 198cm Daniel Bass, who returned to
Australia in mid-2009 after a four-year stint playing for Metro
State University in Denver.

As the 22-year-old Bass had not been registered with any
football club for the previous four years, he could be selected by
the Power without going through the draft system.

Port Adelaide football operations manager Peter Rohde said Bass
was discovered through the Power's recruiting network as the club
searched for future ruck options following the retirement of
Brendon Lade.

Despite a very limited Australian Rules background, Bass
impressed the club during a mid-season try-out and testing.

"We keep a pretty close eye on basketball, especially some of
the bigger blokes, given we've had some success there with Dean
Brogan," Rohde said.

"Daniel's certainly got some terrific athletic qualities and
having been in an elite sporting environment in the States he's
already had four years of physical development.

"Being a Melbourne boy he's familiar with footy and played a
little growing up, so he's not starting completely cold there.

"We see Daniel as a medium-term ruck project for us - we
certainly don't have high expectations for the coming season, but
we think it could be a two-to-three year development process
instead of a four-to-five year one."

Brogan is the only player to have won premierships in the NBL
and AFL - for the Adelaide 36ers in 1998 and the Power five years
ago.